Say Anything Blog

A rather silly posting from North Dakota Democrat Communications Director Rick Gion who is trying as hard as he can to smear Tax Commissioner Cory Fong and Public Services Commissioner Kevin Cramer (who we interviewed on the podcast last night) while simultaneously trying to cast a shadow over whoever Hoeven will pick to replace Jim Poolman (before we even know who that person is):

Since Gov. John Hoeven will be picking the new commissioner of the Insurance Department, I thought I’d give you some insight into his last two appointments for statewide office.

In 2005, Hoeven appointed Cory Fong as North Dakota tax commissioner. Fong was Hoeven’s campaign director in 2004. He was also deputy director of the North Dakota Republican Party in 2000.

According to a May 29, 2005, Forum article by Janell Cole, “(Fong) has no formal training in accounting, law, information technology or business - fields you’d consider appropriate backgrounds.”

In 2003, Kevin Cramer was appointed to the North Dakota Public Service Commission by Hoeven.

According to the Public Service Commission’s Web site, “prior to government service, he (Cramer) served as chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party. At age 30, he became the youngest member of the Republican National Committee.”

Gion concludes with this:

I think North Dakotans deserve a new insurance commissioner who has the best qualifications and not someone based on who their friends are.

Of course, Hoeven’s last two appoints went on to be overwhelmingly re-elected to their respective positions.  In 2004 Kevin Cramer was re-elected with over 65% of the vote.  In 2006 Cory Fong was re-elected with over 53% of the vote.

Now I’m no Hoeven fan (I’d like to see the guy un-elected ASAP), but Fong and Cramer’s appointments weren’t exactly controversial.  And clearly the public didn’t have a beef with them given that they were both put back into office with strong majorities.  So what’s Gion’s beef?

Oh yeah, these guys are stinky Republicans.